The PNG LNG Kumuls squad for the upcoming Pacific Test this month has been named.
Kumuls Head Coach Stanley Tepend announced his 19-man squad ahead of the Pacific Test on the 25th of this month.
Kumuls Head Coach Stanley Tepend said that all the players named he has been in contact with for the past few weeks and they are aware of the short camp coming up ahead of the test match against the Fiji Batis.
“There’s six Hunters players that have been named, even though we haven’t been doing well but I feel that the players named have earned their position.”
“We will all get into camp on Tuesday the 21st, we will assemble in to Campbelltown, so it’s just easier for us.”
“Once we get into camp, we’ll have a light run on Tuesday, Wednesday is our big day, we’ll have two sessions, Thursday we’ll have a day off, then on Friday we’ll have the Captain’s Run and Saturday will be the game.”
“We’re the latter game at 7.50pm, kick off time, that is.”
Speaking on behalf of the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League Board Chairman Sandis Tsaka, and the PNGRFL Management, Chief Executive Officer Mr Stanley Hondina congratulated the 19 players that made the cut.
Mr Hondina also congratulated Coach Tepend’s coaching staff which consists of David Westley (Assistant Coach), Paul Aiton (Assistant Coach), John Wilshire (Team Manager), Jeremy Hickmans (Head of Performance), Solomon Kuliniaisi (High Performance Trainer), Mong Tavol (Trainer), Tommy Butterfield (Media Manager), and Simon Morris (Physiotherapist).
“The last mid-year test match the PNG Kumuls were involved in was back in 2019, after that we’ve had a quiet period attributed to Covid 19 and all the other challenges, but we are delighted that this event is coming up.”
The Pacific Test will showcase the pride and passion of rugby league in the Cook Islands, Samoa, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
The upcoming double header of the Pacific Test will take place at Campbelltown Stadium in Sydney, with PNG taking on Fiji, and Cook Islands to meet Samoa.
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